Electric smelting-furnace.



No. 662,537. Patented Nov. 27, I900. H. KOLLER.

ELECTRIC SMELTING FURNACE,

(Application filed Kay 17, 1900.1

- (In mm.)

Win 65,96) 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGO KOLLER, OF NUREMBERG, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC SM ELTlNG-E-U RNAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,537, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed May1'7,1900. Serial No. 17,028. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGO KOLLER, a'subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Nurem berg,Bavaria, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful Electric smelting-Furnace with Superposed Electrodes, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The present invention relates to that class of electric smelting-furnaces described in my patent application filed May 17, 1900, Serial No. 17,026, in which the principle of disconnected intermediate electrodes inserted between the two current-feed electrodes is involved. In this application one or more disconnected electrodes are inserted or arranged between the two stationary or non-adjustable feed-electrodes, a suitable space being left between the adjacent ends of the series of electrodes thus formed. According to the principle above referred to the intermediate electrodes were arranged in the lines of the current; but I have found that it is not ahsolutely necessary to arrange such intermediate electrodes in the direction of the lines of the current. The same may be superposed provided, always, that their positions between the electrodes enable the formation of a plurality of spheres of reaction arranged in series between such electrodes. Thus the interme diate electrodes may be superposed and may be constructed in the form of a funnel or hopper, so that the spheres of reaction may communicate one with the other.

In order to render the present specification easily intelligible, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one form of embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the means for supporting the hopper-shaped electrodes.

The superposed electrodes T, T, and T are built up within the furnace W, the bottom of which is in connection with one of the current-feed electrodes E. Each electrode consists of two carbon blocks 0 c, Fig. 2, recessed to receive and carry the hopper T, which is made of carbon. Each electrode thus formed is supported a suitable distance above the one below it by means of fireproof insulatingblocks a a, the smaller open end of each hopper extending slightly into the larger open mouth of the hopper below it. The upper current-feed electrode extends into the mouth of the top hopper T, and at each side of the same openings 6 eare provided in the cover, through which the material being treated is fed. In starting the reaction a rod of carbon 9" is advantageously inserted between the two electrodesE and E, which rod is subsequently burned away or falls out, whereupon the current takes the course indicated in Fig. 1. It will thus be clear that several spheres of reaction arranged in series, but communicating one with the other, will be formed, in which the material being treated is reacted on successively, in that it moves from one sphere to the next, the hopper shape of the electrodes preventing the material passing from one hopper to the other from flowing over the edge of the lower one.

The above-described furnace is well suited for carrying out most electrical smelting processes. These furnaces, particularly the form illustrated, can easily be rendered gas-tight, so that they not only enable the smelting product-to be obtained, but retain also the gases developed and eventually the products of distillation also.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electric furnace having verticallydisposed current-feed electrodes, a vertical series of superposed disconnected hoppershaped electrodes, arranged between said feed-electrodes and means forinsulating them one from the other and from the current-feed electrodes substantially as described.

2. An electric furnace having verticallydisposed current-feed electrodes, a vertical series of superposed disconnected hoppershaped electrodes arranged between said feedelectrodes and means for insulating them one from the other and from the current-electrodes, the lower smaller end of one hopper extending into the top larger mouth of the hopper below it substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HUGO KOLLER.

Witnesses:

WOLDEMAE HAUPT, HENRY I-IAsPEE. 

